Online profile

Melissa Maple

Melissa MaplePartner

Melissa joined Shoosmiths in June 2016 as a partner in our Wealth Protection department, based in our Thames Valley office.

Melissa advises wealthy UK and international clients on the long term protection and devolution of their assets through estate, succession and tax planning concentrating on several specific elements:

Tax - Advising individuals - often land owners, business owners, trustees and entrepreneurs on inheritance tax and capital gains tax in the context of general estate planning and in relation to specific deals and events. This advice will often include advice on specific business and agricultural property reliefs as well as trust taxation.

Trusts - Advising on creation, administration and re-arrangement where families and trustees are looking to protect assets, to save tax and to create flexible structures that may last for generations.

Wills - Drafting both simple and complex Wills for UK and international clients.

Estates - Advising executors and beneficiaries on all aspects of estate administration.

Melissa has been praised in the Legal 500 for her ‘attention to detail, intelligence and delightful interpersonal skills which win her high praise and loyalty from both her clients and colleague alike’.

Melissa acts as a trustee, executor and attorney where appropriate.

Melissa completed a music degree at Cardiff University, undertaking her legal qualification thereafter at the College of Law in Guildford. She trained at niche London firm, Rooks Rider, qualified in 2001 and remained with the firm until 2005. Melissa subsequently worked at Barrett & Co (2005 – 2007), Henmans Freeth (2007 – 2013) and most recently Oxfordshire firm, Hedges Law where she was a director and head of Private Client (2013 – 2016).